The Rajasthan Royals are under scrutiny once again after a nail-biting defeat against Lucknow Super Giants triggered allegations of match fixing. The loss has prompted Jaideep Bihani, convener of the Rajasthan Cricket Association’s ad hoc committee, to demand a formal probe, citing past controversies involving the franchise and questioning the bizarre collapse despite being in a winning position.
In Match 36 of IPL 2025, Rajasthan Royals needed just nine runs to win off the final over with six wickets in hand, chasing 181. But Avesh Khan’s exceptional death bowling for Lucknow led to a shocking two-run defeat for the Sanju Samson-led side. The outcome raised eyebrows, especially with Rajasthan playing at home and holding a strong position going into the final over.
Speaking to News18 Rajasthan, Jaideep Bihani expressed disbelief over the result and linked it to the team’s controversial history. He recalled the 2013 spot-fixing scandal involving RR players and the betting case against then co-owner Raj Kundra, which led to the team’s two-year suspension in 2016 and 2017 alongside Chennai Super Kings. He has now called on the BCCI and relevant authorities to investigate the incident.
Jaideep Bihani also voiced frustration over the Rajasthan Cricket Association being sidelined from hosting responsibilities during the IPL season. He alleged that the Sports Council took over despite RCA’s successful track record in organizing tournaments across levels. Jaideep Bihani argued that the justification for removing RCA—that there was no memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Sawai Mansingh Stadium—was weak, especially since the franchise pays the Sports Council per match.
Adding to the controversy, Jaideep Bihani pointed out that this wasn’t the first time RR had lost from a commanding position this season. In another game against Delhi Capitals, they failed to score nine runs in the final over despite having seven wickets in hand and eventually lost in the Super Over.
Rajasthan Royals’ performance has been underwhelming, with only two wins from eight matches so far. They currently sit at eighth place on the points table with just four points. Their next match is scheduled against Royal Challengers Bengaluru on April 24 at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.
